OS upgrade.

[nuraman00]

Is it possible to upgrade beyond 6.0.1 without rooting my phone?

Is there a way to do this, that is recommended?

Or is it discouraged?

What would the consequences be, could I upgrade without wiping my data?

I do have things backed up, I just don't want to go through an elaborate backup and restore process, if I don't have to.

Ideally, if I do have to do a backup and restore, it could be a one step back up everything, one step restore everything process.

Not a backup this data this way, this app this way, etc.

 

[hallux]

No, the only way to do that is to install a custom ROM, which would require root in order to install the needed custom recovery in order to support the custom ROM.

Additionally - running a device on a more modern version of Android could introduce performance problems if you go too new. That device is 7 years old, I would say it's probably on borrowed time anyway, something it bound to fail sooner than later so it may be time to just move on...

 

[LuxuryTouringZone]

Android 12 on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 would be sweet, but not happening due to its ancient age. I would love for Samsung to release a "Note 4" with a 2021 processor.